Planning data report - generated 2026-06-06

UK Planning Approval Rates 2026

Every England district planning authority ranked by approval rate, refusal rate and decision speed using the latest official MHCLG planning statistics.

By Ben Thompson, Founder, PlanWatch. Official source accessed 2026-06-06.

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Authorities ranked 310 307 have at least 50 decisions
Decisions analysed 300,645 Official PS2 decisions, 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Approval rate 87.0% 261,678 granted, 38,967 refused
In-time rate 90.6% As reported in MHCLG PS2 timing columns

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Approval rates give council-level context. For a real property decision, start with the live applications and notices around the address you care about.

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What the latest official data shows

Across 310 England district planning authorities in the latest MHCLG PS2 release, councils decided 300,645 applications. 261,678 were granted and 38,967 were refused, giving a national approval rate of 87.0% for the period.

The table below ranks councils by the share of decisions granted. Use it as a planning-risk signal, not as a prediction for any one proposal. The strength of a specific application still turns on the local plan, site constraints, drawings, consultation responses, officer judgement and material planning considerations.

Highest approval rates

  1. Fareham 98.0% from 595 decisions
  2. Hammersmith and Fulham 97.2% from 1,401 decisions
  3. North Kesteven 97.2% from 637 decisions
  4. Cumberland 96.8% from 1,146 decisions
  5. Redcar and Cleveland 96.7% from 425 decisions

Lowest approval rates

  1. Epping Forest 66.1% from 1,350 decisions
  2. Barking and Dagenham 66.2% from 713 decisions
  3. Hounslow 68.3% from 1,284 decisions
  4. Windsor and Maidenhead 68.9% from 1,576 decisions
  5. Gravesham 71.6% from 627 decisions

Most decisions

  1. Cornwall 4,956 decisions, 92.6% approved
  2. Westminster 4,828 decisions, 86.1% approved
  3. North Yorkshire 4,687 decisions, 89.5% approved
  4. Buckinghamshire 4,436 decisions, 83.5% approved
  5. Somerset 3,851 decisions, 89.0% approved

Every council ranked by planning approval rate

Search by council or region. Click a column heading to sort. Rankings include all authorities in the official PS2 file; headline panels only use authorities with at least 50 decisions to avoid tiny-sample distortions.

310 authorities
1 Fareham South East - E07000087 595 583 12
98.0%
 98.8% 228
2 Hammersmith and Fulham London - E09000013 1,401 1,362 39
97.2%
 94.7% 223
3 North Kesteven East Midlands - E07000139 637 619 18
97.2%
 97.5% 399
4 Cumberland North West - E06000063 1,146 1,109 37
96.8%
 72.1% 182
5 Redcar and Cleveland North East - E06000003 425 411 14
96.7%
 88.5% 111
6 Cheltenham South West - E07000078 1,021 985 36
96.5%
 93.3% 692
7 Mansfield East Midlands - E07000174 304 293 11
96.4%
 95.4% 223
8 Bolsover East Midlands - E07000033 294 283 11
96.3%
 99.7% 126
9 City of London London - E09000001 448 431 17
96.2%
 96.0% 521
10 Redditch West Midlands - E07000236 159 153 6
96.2%
 89.9% 91
11 North Tyneside North East - E08000022 648 622 26
96.0%
 99.2% 561
12 Amber Valley East Midlands - E07000032 690 660 30
95.7%
 99.0% 77
13 Fylde North West - E07000119 421 403 18
95.7%
 96.9% 71
14 South Tyneside North East - E08000023 376 360 16
95.7%
 97.3% 43
15 Norwich East of England - E07000148 546 522 24
95.6%
 86.1% 347
16 Vale of White Horse South East - E07000180 986 942 44
95.5%
 95.5% 131
17 Rushmoor South East - E07000092 313 299 14
95.5%
 95.5% 224
18 Tamworth West Midlands - E07000199 155 148 7
95.5%
 92.9% 67
19 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000012 468 446 22
95.3%
 98.9% 270
20 Melton East Midlands - E07000133 293 279 14
95.2%
 80.5% 218
21 Stockport North West - E08000007 1,293 1,229 64
95.1%
 98.6% 299
22 Lincoln East Midlands - E07000138 329 313 16
95.1%
 87.5% 77
23 Nuneaton and Bedworth West Midlands - E07000219 301 286 15
95.0%
 98.3% 43
24 Halton North West - E06000006 255 242 13
94.9%
 98.0% 188
25 Ebbsfleet Development Corporation South East - E51000003 39 37 2
94.9%
 97.4% 31
26 Bath and North East Somerset South West - E06000022 1,835 1,739 96
94.8%
 79.5% 466
27 West Oxfordshire South East - E07000181 1,147 1,087 60
94.8%
 96.9% 876
28 Wokingham South East - E06000041 1,132 1,072 60
94.7%
 99.1% 254
29 South Ribble North West - E07000126 411 389 22
94.6%
 96.4% 315
30 Northumberland National Park National Parks - E26000004 37 35 2
94.6%
 100.0% 1,812
31 Bromsgrove West Midlands - E07000234 477 451 26
94.5%
 89.7% 404
32 South Oxfordshire South East - E07000179 1,522 1,437 85
94.4%
 91.3% 164
33 Mid Devon South West - E07000042 675 637 38
94.4%
 95.0% 317
34 Blackburn with Darwen North West - E06000008 500 472 28
94.4%
 100.0% 69
35 North York Moors National Park National Parks - E26000005 462 436 26
94.4%
 85.9% 41
36 North West Leicestershire East Midlands - E07000134 540 509 31
94.3%
 85.6% 418
37 Hartlepool North East - E06000001 229 216 13
94.3%
 99.6% 34
38 Gosport South East - E07000088 243 229 14
94.2%
 92.6% 145
39 Solihull West Midlands - E08000029 1,185 1,115 70
94.1%
 86.1% 674
40 Tonbridge and Malling South East - E07000115 891 838 53
94.1%
 87.2% 445
41 North Norfolk East of England - E07000147 877 825 52
94.1%
 93.7% 804
42 Erewash East Midlands - E07000036 389 366 23
94.1%
 84.3% 65
43 The Broads Authority National Parks - E26000007 102 96 6
94.1%
 96.1% 92
44 South Norfolk East of England - E07000149 1,050 987 63
94.0%
 90.8% 211
45 Stockton-on-Tees North East - E06000004 618 581 37
94.0%
 92.1% 437
46 Havant South East - E07000090 419 394 25
94.0%
 85.9% 266
47 Stevenage East of England - E07000243 266 250 16
94.0%
 94.0% 220
48 St. Helens North West - E08000013 495 465 30
93.9%
 99.6% 245
49 North Devon South West - E07000043 963 903 60
93.8%
 97.2% 74
50 South Derbyshire East Midlands - E07000039 599 562 37
93.8%
 90.0% 55
51 County Durham North East - E06000047 1,693 1,586 107
93.7%
 89.8% 1,005
52 Tunbridge Wells South East - E07000116 1,217 1,139 78
93.6%
 96.1% 934
53 Herefordshire, County of West Midlands - E06000019 1,389 1,299 90
93.5%
 81.0% 0
54 Newcastle-under-Lyme West Midlands - E07000195 479 448 31
93.5%
 95.4% 381
55 Canterbury South East - E07000106 978 913 65
93.4%
 80.6% 242
56 Barnsley Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000038 647 604 43
93.4%
 79.4% 72
57 Rugby West Midlands - E07000220 513 479 34
93.4%
 84.8% 259
58 Knowsley North West - E08000011 316 295 21
93.4%
 93.7% 223
59 Cherwell South East - E07000177 1,082 1,009 73
93.3%
 80.3% 49
60 Sefton North West - E08000014 991 925 66
93.3%
 98.0% 596
61 Winchester South East - E07000094 961 897 64
93.3%
 92.2% 664
62 Worthing South East - E07000229 563 525 38
93.3%
 93.4% 104
63 North Warwickshire West Midlands - E07000218 375 350 25
93.3%
 82.9% 43
64 Cheshire West and Chester North West - E06000050 1,688 1,572 116
93.1%
 92.0% 909
65 Wiltshire South West - E06000054 3,734 3,474 260
93.0%
 94.5% 315
66 Kensington and Chelsea London - E09000020 2,381 2,215 166
93.0%
 96.1% 0
67 Chorley North West - E07000118 570 530 40
93.0%
 97.0% 426
68 Broxtowe East Midlands - E07000172 501 466 35
93.0%
 96.8% 242
69 East Lindsey East Midlands - E07000137 818 760 58
92.9%
 86.4% 232
70 Wyre Forest West Midlands - E07000239 448 416 32
92.9%
 95.8% 373
71 Plymouth South West - E06000026 677 628 49
92.8%
 96.6% 621
72 Cornwall South West - E06000052 4,956 4,589 367
92.6%
 94.5% 1,884
73 South Cambridgeshire East of England - E07000012 1,516 1,404 112
92.6%
 91.1% 524
74 Broadland East of England - E07000144 772 715 57
92.6%
 92.6% 984
75 North Hertfordshire East of England - E07000099 1,071 991 80
92.5%
 86.0% 821
76 Test Valley South East - E07000093 1,015 939 76
92.5%
 92.8% 818
77 Hertsmere East of England - E07000098 749 693 56
92.5%
 91.6% 608
78 West Lindsey East Midlands - E07000142 562 520 42
92.5%
 97.2% 72
79 East Staffordshire West Midlands - E07000193 558 516 42
92.5%
 83.3% 67
80 Exmoor National Park National Parks - E26000002 161 149 12
92.5%
 98.8% 48
81 Gedling East Midlands - E07000173 458 423 35
92.4%
 90.2% 247
82 Newcastle upon Tyne North East - E08000021 910 840 70
92.3%
 83.3% 0
83 Forest of Dean South West - E07000080 596 550 46
92.3%
 92.6% 354
84 Ipswich East of England - E07000202 442 408 34
92.3%
 98.4% 182
85 Adur South East - E07000223 310 286 24
92.3%
 95.8% 104
86 East Suffolk East of England - E07000244 1,992 1,836 156
92.2%
 82.7% 1,423
87 Westmorland and Furness North West - E06000064 1,223 1,128 95
92.2%
 91.6% 45
88 Wakefield Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000036 1,086 999 87
92.0%
 91.8% 673
89 Yorkshire Dales National Park National Parks - E26000012 450 414 36
92.0%
 82.0% 154
90 New Forest National Park National Parks - E26000009 468 430 38
91.9%
 74.1% 592
91 South Downs National Park National Parks - E26000010 1,656 1,521 135
91.8%
 90.9% 1,197
92 Great Yarmouth East of England - E07000145 376 345 31
91.8%
 96.8% 136
93 Kirklees Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000034 1,719 1,574 145
91.6%
 90.9% 211
94 Medway South East - E06000035 1,025 939 86
91.6%
 96.6% 704
95 Southampton South East - E06000045 748 685 63
91.6%
 90.4% 415
96 Basingstoke and Deane South East - E07000084 1,066 975 91
91.5%
 84.5% 620
97 Kingston upon Hull, City of Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000010 412 377 35
91.5%
 80.3% 0
98 Southwark London - E09000028 1,589 1,452 137
91.4%
 94.6% 1,146
99 Isles of Scilly South West - E06000053 58 53 5
91.4%
 86.2% 0
100 Lake District National Park National Parks - E26000011 795 726 69
91.3%
 85.0% 348
101 North East Derbyshire East Midlands - E07000038 516 471 45
91.3%
 92.8% 253
102 Mid Sussex South East - E07000228 1,104 1,007 97
91.2%
 97.4% 806
103 Isle of Wight South East - E06000046 821 749 72
91.2%
 95.4% 654
104 West Suffolk East of England - E07000245 1,042 948 94
91.0%
 85.3% 708
105 Derby East Midlands - E06000015 937 853 84
91.0%
 88.4% 495
106 Newark and Sherwood East Midlands - E07000175 746 679 67
91.0%
 90.6% 638
107 Sunderland North East - E08000024 578 526 52
91.0%
 96.4% 422
108 Islington London - E09000019 1,451 1,319 132
90.9%
 95.9% 225
109 Cambridge East of England - E07000008 1,034 940 94
90.9%
 92.1% 1,684
110 Boston East Midlands - E07000136 308 280 28
90.9%
 87.0% 29
111 Rushcliffe East Midlands - E07000176 785 713 72
90.8%
 88.4% 503
112 Blaby East Midlands - E07000129 491 446 45
90.8%
 91.6% 328
113 Dorset South West - E06000059 2,785 2,527 258
90.7%
 91.4% 220
114 Stratford-on-Avon West Midlands - E07000221 1,287 1,166 121
90.6%
 89.6% 156
115 Huntingdonshire East of England - E07000011 1,053 954 99
90.6%
 93.7% 925
116 New Forest South East - E07000091 912 826 86
90.6%
 95.2% 592
117 Preston North West - E07000123 682 617 65
90.5%
 93.8% 50
118 Lewes South East - E07000063 411 372 39
90.5%
 82.2% 172
119 West Berkshire South East - E06000037 1,141 1,031 110
90.4%
 89.9% 813
120 Dover South East - E07000108 784 709 75
90.4%
 90.3% 590
121 Gateshead North East - E08000037 468 423 45
90.4%
 88.9% 240
122 Telford and Wrekin West Midlands - E06000020 593 535 58
90.2%
 99.8% 102
123 Darlington North East - E06000005 451 407 44
90.2%
 92.5% 348
124 Hartlepool Development Corporation North East - E51000007 41 37 4
90.2%
 82.9% 0
125 South Kesteven East Midlands - E07000141 980 883 97
90.1%
 86.1% 554
126 West Northamptonshire East Midlands - E06000062 1,812 1,630 182
90.0%
 87.4% 92
127 Warwick West Midlands - E07000222 939 845 94
90.0%
 93.9% 563
128 Cannock Chase West Midlands - E07000192 247 222 25
89.9%
 94.7% 111
129 Horsham South East - E07000227 1,259 1,131 128
89.8%
 94.0% 925
130 Eastbourne South East - E07000061 315 283 32
89.8%
 83.2% 174
131 Hastings South East - E07000062 339 304 35
89.7%
 97.1% 211
132 Wandsworth London - E09000032 2,141 1,919 222
89.6%
 90.3% 210
133 Harborough East Midlands - E07000131 819 734 85
89.6%
 76.2% 601
134 North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000065 4,687 4,193 494
89.5%
 86.7% 289
135 Bexley London - E09000004 1,314 1,176 138
89.5%
 97.4% 683
136 Chichester South East - E07000225 929 831 98
89.5%
 97.1% 504
137 Salford North West - E08000006 783 701 82
89.5%
 95.0% 106
138 Swale South East - E07000113 678 607 71
89.5%
 94.5% 332
139 Camden London - E09000007 1,969 1,761 208
89.4%
 90.6% 99
140 East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000011 1,878 1,679 199
89.4%
 98.2% 302
141 King's Lynn and West Norfolk East of England - E07000146 1,202 1,073 129
89.3%
 93.5% 0
142 Swindon South West - E06000030 772 689 83
89.2%
 88.1% 170
143 Eastleigh South East - E07000086 536 478 58
89.2%
 93.1% 67
144 Derbyshire Dales East Midlands - E07000035 498 444 54
89.2%
 76.9% 403
145 Nottingham East Midlands - E06000018 966 861 105
89.1%
 76.5% 553
146 Three Rivers East of England - E07000102 853 760 93
89.1%
 98.6% 538
147 Somerset South West - E06000066 3,851 3,429 422
89.0%
 86.0% 476
148 East Devon South West - E07000040 1,323 1,177 146
89.0%
 80.2% 971
149 Cotswold South West - E07000079 1,287 1,146 141
89.0%
 90.3% 1,080
150 Dacorum East of England - E07000096 1,137 1,012 125
89.0%
 82.3% 231
151 Chesterfield East Midlands - E07000034 327 291 36
89.0%
 86.2% 271
152 Middlesbrough Development Corporation North East - E51000006 82 73 9
89.0%
 84.1% 0
153 Thanet South East - E07000114 773 687 86
88.9%
 83.3% 417
154 Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation London - E51000002 54 48 6
88.9%
 98.1% 46
155 South Hams South West - E07000044 1,050 932 118
88.8%
 92.8% 60
156 Northumberland North East - E06000057 1,923 1,705 218
88.7%
 92.1% 1,812
157 Brighton and Hove South East - E06000043 1,710 1,517 193
88.7%
 82.3% 228
158 Wolverhampton West Midlands - E08000031 811 719 92
88.7%
 98.4% 370
159 Sutton London - E09000029 901 796 105
88.3%
 95.3% 500
160 East Hampshire South East - E07000085 583 515 68
88.3%
 87.0% 50
161 Rossendale North West - E07000125 231 204 27
88.3%
 91.3% 152
162 Mid Suffolk East of England - E07000203 904 797 107
88.2%
 94.9% 0
163 Oldham North West - E08000004 875 772 103
88.2%
 92.2% 374
164 Rother South East - E07000064 780 688 92
88.2%
 91.0% 42
165 Tewkesbury South West - E07000083 718 633 85
88.2%
 88.9% 127
166 Hinckley and Bosworth East Midlands - E07000132 484 427 57
88.2%
 79.8% 464
167 North Somerset South West - E06000024 1,148 1,010 138
88.0%
 85.8% 871
168 Sandwell West Midlands - E08000028 935 821 114
87.8%
 97.0% 163
169 Merton London - E09000024 1,126 987 139
87.7%
 91.7% 501
170 Burnley North West - E07000117 300 263 37
87.7%
 94.0% 220
171 Bury North West - E08000002 777 681 96
87.6%
 99.6% 477
172 Welwyn Hatfield East of England - E07000241 630 552 78
87.6%
 95.1% 307
173 Reigate and Banstead South East - E07000211 1,027 898 129
87.4%
 92.5% 868
174 Waverley South East - E07000216 1,377 1,202 175
87.3%
 95.4% 178
175 Stroud South West - E07000082 1,019 890 129
87.3%
 95.9% 478
176 Stafford West Midlands - E07000197 487 425 62
87.3%
 68.8% 237
177 Manchester North West - E08000003 1,813 1,581 232
87.2%
 93.0% 1,105
178 Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000039 1,765 1,539 226
87.2%
 88.6% 770
179 Ashford South East - E07000105 1,007 878 129
87.2%
 95.6% 91
180 Portsmouth South East - E06000044 624 544 80
87.2%
 95.8% 354
181 Chelmsford East of England - E07000070 1,291 1,125 166
87.1%
 89.2% 750
182 Sevenoaks South East - E07000111 1,193 1,039 154
87.1%
 94.0% 843
183 Shropshire West Midlands - E06000051 2,039 1,774 265
87.0%
 91.7% 1,261
184 Fenland East of England - E07000010 599 521 78
87.0%
 93.7% 103
185 Tameside North West - E08000008 569 495 74
87.0%
 96.1% 374
186 Rutland East Midlands - E06000017 509 443 66
87.0%
 98.8% 439
187 Cheshire East North West - E06000049 2,460 2,137 323
86.9%
 85.8% 51
188 Wirral North West - E08000015 932 810 122
86.9%
 93.9% 127
189 East Cambridgeshire East of England - E07000009 725 630 95
86.9%
 94.1% 487
190 Wigan North West - E08000010 712 618 94
86.8%
 95.9% 528
191 Maldon East of England - E07000074 394 342 52
86.8%
 87.6% 331
192 Dartmoor National Park National Parks - E26000001 310 269 41
86.8%
 93.2% 52
193 Oxford South East - E07000178 1,132 981 151
86.7%
 89.1% 432
194 South Staffordshire West Midlands - E07000196 587 509 78
86.7%
 98.5% 394
195 Torridge South West - E07000046 562 487 75
86.7%
 96.4% 378
196 Milton Keynes South East - E06000042 1,290 1,117 173
86.6%
 92.5% 152
197 Charnwood East Midlands - E07000130 837 725 112
86.6%
 89.7% 192
198 Babergh East of England - E07000200 835 722 113
86.5%
 94.3% 368
199 Peak District National Park National Parks - E26000006 547 473 74
86.5%
 92.1% 134
200 Braintree East of England - E07000067 917 792 125
86.4%
 95.6% 292
201 Bassetlaw East Midlands - E07000171 556 480 76
86.3%
 80.2% 392
202 Bracknell Forest South East - E06000036 524 452 72
86.3%
 89.7% 187
203 High Peak East Midlands - E07000037 354 305 49
86.2%
 94.1% 36
204 Westminster London - E09000033 4,828 4,159 669
86.1%
 84.1% 1,895
205 Doncaster Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000017 913 786 127
86.1%
 89.4% 694
206 Bristol, City of South West - E06000023 2,112 1,817 295
86.0%
 87.4% 0
207 Trafford North West - E08000009 1,451 1,248 203
86.0%
 93.0% 332
208 North Northamptonshire East Midlands - E06000061 1,155 993 162
86.0%
 86.5% 120
209 Walsall West Midlands - E08000030 852 733 119
86.0%
 93.3% 249
210 North Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000013 720 619 101
86.0%
 86.0% 30
211 Pendle North West - E07000122 436 375 61
86.0%
 87.4% 229
212 St Albans East of England - E07000240 1,375 1,180 195
85.8%
 88.8% 884
213 Wychavon West Midlands - E07000238 1,076 923 153
85.8%
 90.8% 51
214 Stoke-on-Trent West Midlands - E06000021 420 360 60
85.7%
 95.7% 50
215 Coventry West Midlands - E08000026 1,226 1,050 176
85.6%
 99.2% 51
216 Arun South East - E07000224 784 671 113
85.6%
 96.6% 288
217 Torbay South West - E06000027 533 456 77
85.6%
 81.4% 92
218 Tendring East of England - E07000076 832 711 121
85.5%
 89.2% 417
219 Ashfield East Midlands - E07000170 414 354 60
85.5%
 82.9% 219
220 Worcester West Midlands - E07000237 406 347 59
85.5%
 97.8% 47
221 Epsom and Ewell South East - E07000208 631 539 92
85.4%
 94.3% 457
222 Haringey London - E09000014 1,414 1,206 208
85.3%
 93.1% 188
223 Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000032 2,330 1,985 345
85.2%
 82.8% 1,422
224 Ealing London - E09000009 1,835 1,563 272
85.2%
 95.3% 1,942
225 Exeter South West - E07000041 559 476 83
85.2%
 85.5% 215
226 Wyre North West - E07000128 563 478 85
84.9%
 94.5% 333
227 Broxbourne East of England - E07000095 477 405 72
84.9%
 88.7% 120
228 Rochdale North West - E08000005 638 541 97
84.8%
 93.9% 277
229 Lewisham London - E09000023 1,379 1,167 212
84.6%
 94.9% 1,010
230 Calderdale Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000033 877 742 135
84.6%
 94.2% 321
231 Tandridge South East - E07000215 709 600 109
84.6%
 94.1% 72
232 Guildford South East - E07000209 1,316 1,112 204
84.5%
 89.4% 827
233 West Devon South West - E07000047 355 300 55
84.5%
 93.2% 104
234 Wealden South East - E07000065 1,401 1,183 218
84.4%
 94.1% 56
235 Basildon East of England - E07000066 781 658 123
84.3%
 81.7% 553
236 Surrey Heath South East - E07000214 632 533 99
84.3%
 88.0% 548
237 Reading South East - E06000038 635 534 101
84.1%
 85.7% 83
238 Breckland East of England - E07000143 799 671 128
84.0%
 89.7% 162
239 Liverpool North West - E08000012 1,323 1,110 213
83.9%
 91.2% 795
240 Hillingdon London - E09000017 1,703 1,427 276
83.8%
 93.1% 161
241 York Yorkshire and the Humber - E06000014 1,243 1,040 203
83.7%
 88.8% 961
242 Lancaster North West - E07000121 728 609 119
83.7%
 90.8% 582
243 Central Bedfordshire East of England - E06000056 1,482 1,239 243
83.6%
 96.0% 264
244 Peterborough East of England - E06000031 706 590 116
83.6%
 82.7% 503
245 Buckinghamshire South East - E06000060 4,436 3,702 734
83.5%
 82.5% 3,172
246 Leeds Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000035 3,649 3,043 606
83.4%
 90.3% 2,457
247 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole South West - E06000058 2,150 1,790 360
83.3%
 82.7% 0
248 Brentwood East of England - E07000068 742 618 124
83.3%
 94.3% 101
249 Dudley West Midlands - E08000027 740 616 124
83.2%
 95.1% 52
250 Ribble Valley North West - E07000124 533 442 91
82.9%
 88.6% 27
251 Malvern Hills West Midlands - E07000235 720 596 124
82.8%
 91.5% 46
252 Folkestone and Hythe South East - E07000112 756 625 131
82.7%
 98.3% 78
253 Birmingham West Midlands - E08000025 3,533 2,920 613
82.6%
 75.4% 857
254 Runnymede South East - E07000212 720 595 125
82.6%
 96.3% 115
255 West Lancashire North West - E07000127 578 477 101
82.5%
 89.3% 486
256 Leicester East Midlands - E06000016 1,149 946 203
82.3%
 83.1% 82
257 Teignbridge South West - E07000045 729 599 130
82.2%
 95.3% 602
258 Blackpool North West - E06000009 349 287 62
82.2%
 86.5% 161
259 Maidstone South East - E07000110 1,125 922 203
82.0%
 97.5% 1,219
260 South Gloucestershire South West - E06000025 1,561 1,278 283
81.9%
 86.1% 992
261 South Holland East Midlands - E07000140 588 480 108
81.6%
 96.1% 72
262 Hackney London - E09000012 1,345 1,096 249
81.5%
 89.2% 0
263 Newham London - E09000025 1,143 931 212
81.5%
 89.5% 665
264 Harlow East of England - E07000073 275 224 51
81.5%
 92.0% 188
265 Bedford East of England - E06000055 1,031 839 192
81.4%
 86.5% 189
266 Southend-on-Sea East of England - E06000033 901 733 168
81.4%
 99.4% 161
267 Thurrock East of England - E06000034 711 579 132
81.4%
 98.0% 480
268 Tower Hamlets London - E09000030 1,036 841 195
81.2%
 92.0% 740
269 Hart South East - E07000089 734 594 140
80.9%
 92.8% 540
270 Crawley South East - E07000226 220 178 42
80.9%
 96.4% 63
271 Bolton North West - E08000001 981 790 191
80.5%
 85.9% 606
272 Spelthorne South East - E07000213 668 538 130
80.5%
 97.6% 308
273 Gloucester South West - E07000081 431 347 84
80.5%
 90.0% 76
274 Richmond upon Thames London - E09000027 1,916 1,533 383
80.0%
 96.1% 0
275 Staffordshire Moorlands West Midlands - E07000198 419 335 84
80.0%
 95.2% 45
276 Lambeth London - E09000022 1,725 1,378 347
79.9%
 94.7% 1,157
277 Rotherham Yorkshire and the Humber - E08000018 777 621 156
79.9%
 100.0% 117
278 East Hertfordshire East of England - E07000242 1,218 972 246
79.8%
 94.5% 769
279 Lichfield West Midlands - E07000194 718 572 146
79.7%
 96.1% 325
280 Dartford South East - E07000107 592 472 120
79.7%
 89.0% 460
281 Colchester East of England - E07000071 1,059 843 216
79.6%
 97.5% 200
282 Woking South East - E07000217 748 595 153
79.5%
 83.4% 532
283 Brent London - E09000005 2,022 1,600 422
79.1%
 95.5% 1,213
284 Watford East of England - E07000103 522 413 109
79.1%
 84.7% 81
285 Enfield London - E09000010 1,989 1,568 421
78.8%
 84.6% 1,352
286 Harrow London - E09000015 1,316 1,029 287
78.2%
 91.2% 60
287 Greenwich London - E09000011 1,487 1,154 333
77.6%
 90.5% 1,229
288 Rochford East of England - E07000075 477 370 107
77.6%
 73.8% 164
289 Hyndburn North West - E07000120 252 195 57
77.4%
 86.9% 50
290 Castle Point East of England - E07000069 429 331 98
77.2%
 99.3% 242
291 Middlesbrough North East - E06000002 316 244 72
77.2%
 91.1% 148
292 Slough South East - E06000039 637 491 146
77.1%
 76.1% 359
293 Uttlesford East of England - E07000077 1,261 968 293
76.8%
 87.6% 861
294 Barnet London - E09000003 2,539 1,940 599
76.4%
 95.8% 1,834
295 Elmbridge South East - E07000207 1,327 1,013 314
76.3%
 92.5% 277
296 Luton East of England - E06000032 721 550 171
76.3%
 97.5% 386
297 Warrington North West - E06000007 901 687 214
76.2%
 94.9% 120
298 Bromley London - E09000006 2,171 1,638 533
75.4%
 83.8% 430
299 Croydon London - E09000008 1,582 1,190 392
75.2%
 91.5% 993
300 Kingston upon Thames London - E09000021 1,151 864 287
75.1%
 87.9% 714
301 Waltham Forest London - E09000031 1,332 991 341
74.4%
 83.6% 105
302 Redbridge London - E09000026 1,711 1,266 445
74.0%
 91.9% 361
303 Mole Valley South East - E07000210 1,025 748 277
73.0%
 78.0% 239
304 Havering London - E09000016 1,476 1,075 401
72.8%
 96.7% 152
305 Oadby and Wigston East Midlands - E07000135 279 200 79
71.7%
 94.3% 139
306 Gravesham South East - E07000109 627 449 178
71.6%
 96.3% 461
307 Windsor and Maidenhead South East - E06000040 1,576 1,086 490
68.9%
 92.4% 1,153
308 Hounslow London - E09000018 1,284 877 407
68.3%
 95.6% 202
309 Barking and Dagenham London - E09000002 713 472 241
66.2%
 100.0% 60
310 Epping Forest East of England - E07000072 1,350 893 457
66.1%
 93.6% 333

Methodology

PlanWatch downloaded the MHCLG PS2 district planning application statistics last-four-quarters CSV and aggregated quarterly rows by local planning authority code.

Approval rate is calculated as total granted divided by total decisions. Refusal rate is total refused divided by total decisions. In-time rate combines MHCLG's in-time decision counts for non-Planning Agreement and Planning Agreement rows, then divides by total decisions.

PlanWatch tracked-application counts are added from the PlanWatch database to show where we have current live-portal coverage, but they are not used to calculate official approval rates.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official sources

Why this UK report is England-led

PlanWatch tracks planning portals across the UK, but the official council-by-council approval-rate ranking here uses MHCLG's England district planning authority dataset because it is the latest comparable open table for local authority decision outcomes. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish planning statistics through separate statistical systems, periods and definitions, so blending them into one UK rate would be misleading.

Frequently asked questions

Is this really a 2026 approval-rate report?

Yes, it is a 2026 report. The latest official MHCLG live table available when generated was updated on 7 April 2026 and covers 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. We make that timing explicit because current-year decision outcomes are not yet complete.

Does this cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

The ranking uses England district planning authority data because that is the comparable MHCLG PS2 dataset. PlanWatch tracks planning portals across the UK, but this official approval-rate table is England-only.

Why does my council's PlanWatch page show different numbers?

The report uses official decision statistics. PlanWatch council pages show live public-register applications and nearby postcode search coverage. Those are different datasets with different purposes.

What should I check before buying a property?

Use the approval-rate table for context, then search the exact postcode, read the application documents on the council portal, check conditions and decision notices, and review nearby pending applications.

Use the data with live local context

Start with your postcode, then compare the live applications nearby with the council's historic decision pattern.

Search PlanWatch